Modular closet system

ABSTRACT

Modular closet system including side/partition wall elements, rear wall elements, a set of connection profiles for connecting the wall elements and the rear wall elements with one another and functioned elements provided to be fixed to the rear walls of the closet arrangement. The set of connection profiles includes wall coupling profiles for holding the wall elements and the other connection profiles of the set are also coupled. Rear wall functionalizing profiles hold the rear wall elements.

This invention relates to a modular closet system according to thepreamble of the first claim.

In the prior art, modular closet systems are known, which allows closetarrangements to be built based on wall elements and connection profiles,for example, from DE 40 22 432 C1 and DE 32 24 711 A1.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a closet system bymeans of which a greater variety of closet arrangements can be formed.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the modularcloset system having all the features of the first claim.

The modular closet system according to the invention comprises:

-   -   wall elements for forming the side and partition walls of a        closet arrangement;    -   rear wall elements for forming rear walls of a closet        arrangement;    -   a set of connection profiles for the connection of the wall        elements and the rear wall elements with each other.

As used herein, the term “rear wall elements” refers to the elements ofa closet arrangement forming the backside of the inner space of thecloset, i.e. which extend in the width and height direction of thecloset and generally substantially parallel with the front of thecloset.

As used herein, the term “wall elements” refers to the elements of acloset arrangement forming the side and partition walls of the closet,i.e. which extend in the depth and height direction of the closet andgenerally substantially perpendicular to the front of the closet.

According to the invention, the set of connection profiles comprises thefollowing profiles:

-   -   wall coupling profiles, each of which comprise first holding        means for holding the wall elements and first coupling means for        the coupling of other connection profiles of the set;    -   rear wall functionalizing profiles, each of which comprise on        both sides second holding means for holding the rear wall        elements, second coupling means which are complementary to the        first coupling means for coupling of the rear wall        functionalizing profiles to the wall coupling profiles, and        first suspension means provided for receiving the complementary        second suspension means.

The closet system according to the invention further comprisesfunctional elements exhibiting the second suspension means, and whichare provided to be mounted to the rear walls of the closet arrangementthrough the rear wall functionalizing profiles.

By providing the rear wall functionalizing profiles and the functionalelements, the rear wall of the closet arrangement, built up with thecloset system according to the invention, can be functionalized. Thismeans that the rear wall not only serves as a rear wall for the part ofthe closet arrangement which is mounted at the front side, but also as arear wall for the functional elements of the closet arrangement whichare provided to the rear side. In this way, a greater variety of closetarrangements can be built with the modular closet system according tothe invention than the hitherto known modular closet systems.

The set of connection profiles comprises in addition rear wall couplingprofiles, which differ from the rear wall functionalizing profiles andwhich also comprise on opposite sides the second holding means forholding the rear wall elements and the second coupling means that arecomplementary to the first coupling means, wherein the second couplingmeans are each time provided on both sides of the rear wall couplingprofiles, such that a closet arrangement can be formed with wallelements on either side of the rear wall elements. By means of this rearwall coupling profiles closet arrangements may be constructed back toback against one another with a common rear panel. Consequently, thiseven increases the diversity of closet arrangements that may be obtainedby means of the closet system according to the invention.

Preferably, the wall coupling profiles are provided on either side ofthe wall elements as an integral part thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the first suspension means on the rear wallfunctionalizing profiles are designed as laterally-oriented slots, andthe wall coupling profiles may also comprise such slotslaterally-oriented slots, provided for suspending accessories in theinner space of the closet arrangement. Preferably, the slots on the rearwall functionalizing profiles have the same shape as the slots on thewall coupling profiles, such that the accessories and functionalelements can be used both in the inner space of the closet arrangementand against the rear wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the rear wall functionalizing profiles eachcomprise a hollow space in which a fluorescent lighting is incorporated.Preferably, this hollow space is closed off by a transparent element,such that direct eye contact with the fluorescent lighting is avoided.

In a preferred embodiment, the rear wall functionalizing profilescomprise inclined parts on both sides, which are directed towards a rearwall element held by the second holding means and onto which a LEDlighting is provided. The inclined orientation has the advantage thatthe LED lighting functions as an indirect lighting. The inclined partsare preferably at an angle of 0-60°, more preferably 0-45°, with respectto the rear wall element held by the second holding means.

In a preferred embodiment, the set of connection profiles furthercomprises front profiles, provided for finishing a front side of acloset arrangement, and coupling elements for coupling the frontprofiles to the first coupling means. Therefore, the coupling elementsare complementary to the wall coupling profiles, which, in turn, may beused both in front of and to the back of the wall elements. Preferably,the wall coupling profiles are provided as an integral part of the wallprofiles.

Preferably, the coupling elements provide a hollow space between thefront wall profiles and the wall coupling profiles, in which afluorescent lighting is incorporated and which is closed off by means oftransparent elements on both sides of the coupling elements. In thisway, lighting is integrated in the front of the closet.

Preferably, the second holding means of the rear wall functionalizingprofiles and the rear wall coupling profiles comprise resilient profilesfor holding the rear panels by clamping.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the followingdescription and the appended figures.

FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively show a sectional view and a perspective viewof a portion of a first closet arrangement, mounted with a preferredembodiment of the modular closet system according to the invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show a sectional view and a perspective viewof a portion of a second closet arrangement, mounted with a preferredembodiment of the modular closet system according to the invention.

FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively show a sectional view and a perspective viewof a part of a third closet arrangement, mounted with a preferredembodiment of the modular closet system according to the invention.

FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show a sectional view and a perspective viewof a portion of a fourth closet arrangement, mounted with a preferredembodiment of the modular closet system according to the invention.

FIGS. 9-12 show perspective views of preferred embodiments of thefunctional elements which are provided to be affixed onto the rear wall.

The first closet arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a wallelement 1, constructed from thin finishing boards 3 on both sides, inbetween an insulating material 4 is present, and onto which both leftand right a wall coupling profile 10, 20 is arranged as an integral partby means of the first holding elements 11, 21 which are attached (e.g.,by gluing) against the inside of the finishing plates 3 and thus holdthe wall elements 1. This wall element 1 may be a side wall or apartition wall of the closet arrangement. The closet arrangement furthercomprises rear wall elements 2, formed as thin panels, which are therear wall of the closet arrangement. The connection of the wall elements1 and the rear wail elements 2 with each other is done by means of arear wall functionalizing profile 30.

The wall coupling profiles 10, 20 each comprise first coupling means 12,22, and the rear wall functionalizing profile 30 comprises secondcoupling means 32. The first and second coupling means are complementaryto each other and engage in each other. The rear wall functionalizingprofile 30 has on either side second holding means 31 for holding therear wall elements 2. The shape of the rear wall functionalizing profileis thereby such, that the held rear wall elements 2 extend at an angleof substantially 90° with respect to the wall elements 1. The rear wallfunctionalizing profile 30 further comprises first suspension means,here designed as slots 33. These slots are provided for receiving secondcomplementary suspension means, which in turn are provided on thefunctional elements 90-95 (see FIGS. 9-12), which are provided to beaffixed to the rear walls 2 of the closet arrangement through the rearwall functionalizing profiles 30. By application of these functionalelements 90-95, the rear wall of the closet obtains a function in theinterior of a home, e.g. as a desk, for suspending lighting, etc.

The wall coupling profiles 10, 20 have slots 13, 23 at the sides of thewall element 1 for suspending accessories in the inner space of thecloset arrangement , such as shelves, drawers, etc. These slots 13, 23have the same shape as the slots 33 on the rear wall functionalizingprofile 30, such that the accessories and the functional elements mayeffectively be used at both sides, i.e. both in the inner space of thecloset and against the rear wall.

The second holding means 31 of the rear wall functionalizing profile 30,with which the rear wall elements 2 are being held, are constructed asslots with a resilient strip 37 on each opposite side. The rear wallelements 2 are sandwiched between these strips 37.

The rear wall functionalizing profile 30 comprises a hollow space inwhich a fluorescent lighting 35 is incorporated. This hollow space isclosed off by a transparent element 80, which is fixed on the rear wallfunctionalizing profile 30 by means of sealing profiles 81 and by whichdirect eye contact with the fluorescent light 35 is avoided. The rearwall functionalizing profile 30 further comprises inclined portions 34on both sides, on which an LED lighting 36 is provided. The inclinedorientation has the advantage that the LED lighting 36 functions as anindirect lighting. The inclined portions 34 are preferably at an angleof 0-60°, more preferably 0-45°, relative to the second holding means 31being held by the rear wall elements 2.

The first closet arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 further comprises afront profile 50, which finishes the front side of the closetarrangement. This front profile 50 is connected to one of the wallcoupling profiles 10 of the wall element 1 by means of a couplingelement 60. To this end, the coupling element has on both sides thesecond coupling means, which are also provided on the rear wallfunctionalizing profile 30 and which are complementary to the firstcoupling means 12, such that the coupling element 60 can be coupledcomplementary to the wall coupling profile 10. As shown, also thecoupling between the front profile 50 and the coupling element 60 iscarried out in this way.

The coupling element 60 provides a hollow space between the frontprofile wall 50 and the wall coupling profile 10, in which a fluorescentlight 35 is incorporated and which is closed off by means of transparentelements 70 on both sides of the coupling element 60. In this way,lighting is integrated in the front of the closet. The transparentelements 70 are held between the sealing profiles 71 in exactly the sameway as the transparent element 80 on the rear wall functionalizingprofile 30.

The second closet arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises twice theabove-described wall element 1 with the integral wall coupling profiles10, 20, each coupled to the front profile 50 by means of couplingelements 60. The two wall elements 1 are coupled to each other back toback by means of rear wall coupling profiles 40. These rear wallcoupling profiles 40 comprise also the second holding means 41 withresilient strips 47 for holding the rear wall elements 2 under an angleof substantially 90° with respect to the wall elements 1. The rear wallcoupling profiles 40 each show on both sides the second coupling means42 that are complementary to the first coupling means 22 of the wallcoupling profiles 20. This results in a closet arrangement with a closetsection on both side of the rear wall.

The third closet arrangement shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 comprises theabove-described wall element 1 with the integral wall coupling profiles10, 20, at the front side coupled to the front profile 50 by means ofthe coupling element 60 and at the rear side coupled with the rear wallcoupling profiles 40, in which the rear wall elements 2 are being held.This third closet arrangement is positioned with the rear wall couplingprofiles 40 against a wall 5. The closet arrangement may be fixedagainst this wall 5, for example by means of the second coupling means42 of the rear wall coupling profiles 40 and a complementary profile(not shown) or other element which is attached on the wall 5.

The fourth closet arrangement shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 comprises theabove-described rear wall functionalizing profile 30, in which two rearwall elements 2 are being held, mounted against a wall 5. The closetarrangement may be fastened against this wall 5, for example by means ofthe second coupling means 32 of the rear wall functionalizing profile 30and a complementary profile (not shown) or another element which isattached on the wall 5. This allows the functional wall of the closetarrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 may to be mounted directly against a wall.

FIGS. 9-12 show examples of functional elements 90-95 which are providedto be mounted on the rear wall of the closet arrangement of FIGS. 1 and2, more specifically each between two rear wall functionalizing profiles30 by means of suspension means which are complementary to the slots 33in the rear wall functionalizing profiles. The examples shown are ashelf 90, a stabilizing base 91 which serves to prevent tipping over ofthe closet arrangement, a rod for clothes hangers 92 with a shelf, a rodfor clothes hangers 93, a desktop 94 and a drawer unit 95. Of course,many other functional elements may be suspended to the rear wallfunctionalizing profiles 30, in as far as they are provided with thesuspension means complementary to the slots 33.

The combination of the closet arrangements of FIGS. 1-12 shows thevariety of closet arrangements which can be obtained with one and thesame modular closet system according to a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

1.-12. (canceled)
 13. Modular closet system, comprising: wall elements for forming side and partition wails of a closet arrangement; rear wall elements for forming rear walls of a closet arrangement; a set of connection profiles for the connection of the wall elements and the rear wall elements with each other; wherein the set of connection profiles include the following profiles: wall coupling profiles, each of which comprise first holding means for holding the wall elements and first coupling means for the coupling of other connection profiles of the set; rear wall functionalizing profiles, each of which comprise second holding means for holding the rear wall elements, second coupling means which are complementary to the first coupling means for coupling of the rear wall functionalizing profiles to the wall coupling profiles, and first suspension means provided for receiving the complementary second suspension means; rear wall coupling profiles, different from the rear wall functionalizing profiles, which also comprise the second holding means means for holding the rear wall elements and the second coupling means which are complementary to the first coupling means of the wall coupling profiles, wherein the second coupling means are each time provided on both sides of the rear wall coupling profiles such that a closet arrangement can be formed with wall elements on both sides of the rear wall elements; and wherein the closet system further comprises functional elements exhibiting the second suspension means, which are provided to be mounted to the rear walls of the closet arrangement through the rear wall functionalizing profiles and which are provided for giving a functionality to the rear wall of the closet arrangement in the interior of a house.
 14. Modular closet system according to claim 13, wherein the wall coupling profiles are provided as integral parts on the front and rear side of the wall elements.
 15. Modular closet system according to claim 14, wherein the wall elements are constructed from, finishing hoards on both sides, in between which an insulation material is present, wherein the first holding elements of the wall coupling profiles are glued against the inside of the finishing boards.
 16. Modular closet system according to claim 13, wherein the first suspension means on the rear wall functionalizing profiles are designed as laterally-oriented slots, and in that the wall coupling profiles may also comprise such laterally-oriented slots, provided for suspending accessories in the inner space of the closet arrangement, wherein the slots on the rear wall functionalizing profiles have the same shape as the slots on the wall coupling profiles, such that the accessories and functional elements can be used both in the inner space of the closet arrangement and against the rear wall.
 17. Modular closet system according to claim 13, wherein the rear wall functionalizing profiles each comprise a hollow space in which a fluorescent lighting is incorporated.
 18. Modular closet system according to claim 13, wherein the rear wall functionalizing profiles each comprise inclined parts on both sides, which are directed towards a rear wall element held by the second holding means and onto which a LED lighting is provided.
 19. Modular closet system according to claim 18, wherein the inclined parts are at an angle of 0-60° relative to a rear wall element held by the second holding means.
 20. Modular closet system according to claim 18, wherein the inclined parts are at an angle of 0-45° relative to a rear wall element held by the second holding means.
 21. Modular closet system according to claim 13, wherein die set of connection profiles further comprises front profiles, provided for finishing a front side of a closet arrangement, and coupling elements for coupling the front profiles to the first coupling means.
 22. Modular closet system according to claim 21, wherein the coupling elements provide a hollow space between the front profiles and the wall coupling profiles, in which a fluorescent light is incorporated and which is closed off by means of transparent elements on both sides of the coupling elements.
 23. Modular closet system according to claim 13, wherein the second holding means of the rear wall functionalizing profiles and the rear wall coupling profiles comprise resilient profiles for holding the rear panels by clamping.
 24. Modular closet system according to claim 13, wherein the functional elements comprise at least one of the following: a shelf, a stabilizing foot base which serves to prevent tipping over of the closet arrangement, a rod for clothes hangers with a shelf, a rod for clothes hangers, a desktop and a drawer unit. 